How to migrate virtual machines from esxi host to another esxi host

[pypylyly]

Hi everybody!

Because of small invesment costs at my company, we have to use ESXi 4 for my virtualization. We deploy many of applications on virtual machines of ESXi host. But now, we need to migrate these virtual machines to another ESXi host. Certainly, ESXi have not any backup method, so we don't know what tools can support us.

I think, with VMs of Windows server, thereis a free tool called convert tools can help us, but not for VM of Linux server. So, Can I do the following:

Login SCP to download all VM data files--> create new VM---> Override these VM data files to new VM folder

Anbody can help me solve these problems, our company only have ESXi hosts, no more, no VCenter......

Thanks all!

[john23]

I think use

openfiler (which can be shared across the host)

http://www.petri.co.il/use-openfiler-as-free-vmware-esx-san-server.htm

Install linux (free version) ,create nfs volume on it. and share across the host

[arturka]

Hi

As far as I know openfiler it is not certified by VMware, of course you can use it but in case of problems VMware will say "not supported config"

Do you have shared or local storage ?

If local storage, quickest method is use VMware converter and to V2V between onld and new ESXi servers

here you go link for install files and docs

http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/

If shared, stop VM, unregister on old ESXi server and register on new ESXi server.

Cheers
Artur

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

[john23]

Yes, you are right, its a not supported  stuff.

[pypylyly]

Thanks everybody!

But we have not storage, we only have ESXi hosts with alone server, these server have the same Intel_base virtualization. Any ideas for us?

[logiboy123]

1) Install vCenter server in trial mode on your source ESXi host.

2) Add the source and destination ESXi hosts to vCenter.

3) Connect to vCenter using the VI Client.

4) Shut down all guest VM's on the source ESXi host.

5) Migrate all turned off VM's from the source to destination ESXi host.

6) Remove hosts from vCenter and delete vCenter server VM.

Regards,

Paul

[pypylyly]

Thanks logiboy123 .I will try this!

[ScottBentley]

If you dont have, or dont wish to install vCenter, the simple way of doing this through the client is to power off the VM on the original host, then browse the datastore with the client and download the folder containing the virtual machine.

Then upload the files to the new ESXi host and browse the datastore then right click on the vmx file and choose add to inventory, if you are asked a question when powering on the VM choose the option "I moved the VM"

I hope this helps

Regards,

Scott

[QucickSand]

Here is a command line solution:

Down load free ovftool 2.0.1 from VMware's web site, and use it to copy VM between ESXi servers.  I use it on my RHEL 5.4 node.

Here is a sample command:

ovftool --powerOffSource -ds="datastore1" --name=_new_guest.example.com \
           --network="VM Network" \
           vi://esxi1.example.com/resource_pool_1/old_guest.example.com \
           vi://esxi2.example.com/resource_pool_2

where:  "datastore1" = datastore name on target server (esxi2)

           "VM Network" = port group on target server

           "vi://..."  lines are source and target locators respectively

There is a user guide for this tool which is quite useful.

[pypylyly]

Thanks all!

I'm trying moving by VM Convert tool!